Stereotype plate and base



(No Model.) G. W. WEAVER.

STEREDTYPE PLATE'AND BASE. l No. 439,334. Patented out. 23,1890.

'stereotype-plates; and it consists in the pe- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WALTER WEAVER, OF ILION, NEW YORK.

STEREO'IGYPE PLATE AND BASE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 439,334, dated October 28, y1890.

Application tiled May 29, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WALTER WEAVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ilion, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stereotype Plates and Bases, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to an improvementin culiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth herer inafter, and particularly7 pointed out in the claim.

The object of my invention is to provide a stereotype-plate-such as are used in the columns of newspapers-which shall be strong and durable and still so light that it may be transported through the mails or sent by express at reduced rates, and which is adapted. to be readily secured to the supporting-block and removed therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of a stereotype-plate embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the plate, the same being detached from the block.

A represents the block or base, which may be made of any preferred material, whether metal or wood, is provided at its under side with the depending supporting legs or flanges B, and has an inclined groove C on its upper side at its center, extending throughout its entire length, and the longitudinal recesses D at its upper corners, said recesses also extending through the length of the base-block.

E represents the plate proper, which is provided onits under side with a series of depending ribs F, which by bearing at their lower edges upon the upper face of the base are adapted to strengthen the plate and give the same a sufficient degree of rigidity and enable it to withstand the pressure of the printing-press. Formed on the under side of the said plate, at the center of the same, is a longitudinal tongue G, which is inclined, and which projects below the plane of the lower edges of the ribs F, as shown, and is adapted to engage the inclined groove O of the base-block. At the sides of the said plate are formed depending anges H, which are adapted to engage the recesses D.

The plate Eis supported on the base-plate Serial No. 275,506. (No model.)

by means of the depending ribs F and the iianges H, which sustain all the strain to which the plate is subjected, the tongue G merely serving to connect the plate to the base-block so that it cannot become detached therefrom while the stereotype-plate is locked in the form. The ribs F may -extend longitudinally under the plate E; but I prefer to arrange the said ribs diagonally under said plate, as shown in Fig. 2, said ribs when thus arranged serving to more effectually stiften and brace the plate. A stereotype-plate thus constructed is adapted to be readily secured to the base-plate and detached therefrom, is very strong and durable, 'and weighs only about half as much as the stereotype-plates now in common use for this purpose, thereby enabling the said stereotype-plate to be transported through the mails or by express at a very much reduced rate.. Inasmuch as a less quantity of material is used, there is also a saving in expense of manufacture.

The plurality of ribs F on the under side of the plate is a distinctive feature in my plate, in that they form a plurality of points of contact or rests for the plate. By this means the plate can be made much lighter than where only two or three points of contact or rests for the plate are provided. Again, the plate is made much stronger and can be subjected to greater pressu re vand longer usage than the common stereotype-plate.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The combination, with a stereotype-plate provided on its lower face with a central longitudinal inclined tongue G, longitudinal flanges H at its sides, and diagonal ribs F at either side of the tongue between it and the side iiange, the lower edges of all said ribs standing in the same plane, of a base having a central groove and side recesses to receive said tongue and ilanges, respectively, the upper face of said base being otherwise flat and upon which the lower edges of the ribs F rest, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownI have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WALTER WEAVER.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE A. WHITE, S. C. BURCH.

IOO 

